Shaker conveyer



Sept 19, 1944. c. A. PRATT SHAKER CONVEYER Filed lApril 21. 1943 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Jkt/fafa@ mkfd Preu Sept. 19,1944. c. A. PRATT l 2,358,416

SHAKER CONVEYER Filed April 2l, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arr-omver l c. A. PRAT-r'. 2,358,416 SHAKER CONVEYER Filed April 21, 1943 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept, 19, 1944.

Sept. 19, 1944. c. A. PRATT sHAKER'coNvEYER Filed April 21,*1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f i d ,a f SMR! IILIIsIaTI 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. A. PRATT `SHAKER coNvEYER Filed April 2l, 1945 INVENTO @Jar/z5 Q10/*42%* BY ,drrok/vsy sept. 19, 1944.v

Patented Sept. 19, 1944 2,358,416 SHAKER' ooNvEYEa t Charles A. Pratt, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 21, I1943, Serial No. 483,875

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in` shaker conveyers and more particularly relates to an improved form of loading device for loading material onto a conveyer trough line.

Shaker conveyer loadingdevices of the selffeeding type have heretofore been extensively used for loading coal in mines. Their use,'how ever, has been limited in that the loadingdevice is usually reciprocably driven from a main shaker conveyer trough line and is pivoted tol and forms an extension fof the inby end of the trough line. Movement of the loading device is thus restricted and itis dicult to load from the extreme corners of a working place, and it is not possible to load at right angles to the main trough line, due to the length of the reciprocating and extensible troughs of the loading device made necessary to permit the required lateral movement of the loading device and to permit extension of kthe loading device without adding additional troughs to the trough line. Also, due tothis necessary length of the usual shaker conveyer loading device, the working place cannot be loaded out by the device until it has first been loaded out by hand a distance sufficient to permit accommodation of the loading device.

The principal objects of my invention are to remedy these diiculties by providing an independently operated shaker conveyer loading device and by providing a material transfer means to connect this loading device to a main conveyer line, to control movement thereof with respect to the conveyer line and to increase the mobility of the loading device with respect to the ,y conveyer line so as to enable material to be continuously loaded onto the conveyer line.

A more specific object of my invention is to l provide a shaker conveyer loading unit mounted for slidable-movement along the ground and to connect this loadingunit with a main conveyer line by means of an independent conveying unit which is arranged to transfer material from the loading unit to the receiving end of the conveyer line and which also serves' to hold the loading unit in spaced relation with respect to the conveyer line and permits it to move with respect to the conveyer lineabout a pair of parallel spaced vertical axes.` y

Other objects of my invention will appear from u time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a loading device con- .Y structed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the forward part of the loading device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the rear part of the .loading device shown in Figure 1,

drawn to substantially the same scale as Figure 2 and showing certain parts .broken away and certain other parts in longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the rear part of the loading device with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown-1n horizontal section in order to show certain details of the transfer conveyerand the connection therefrom, to the main conveyer line;

' Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the forward part of the main-r Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View taken Y through the drive mechanism of the independent loading device;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the connection from the receiving end of the transfer conveyer to the loading device;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure 2; and

Figure 10 is a partial enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional Vview taken substantially along line I-0I0jof Figure 2.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a main conveyer line I0 is shown as being mounted at its forward end on a base II adapted to be held in a stationary position on the ground, during operation of the conveyer, by jacks I2, I2, set between said base and the mine roof in a usual manner. Said main conveyer line may be of any well known form, but is herein preferably shown 'as being a The main conveyerline I0 hasa hopper-like vtrough I3 detacha-biy secured to its forward end,

as by connecting bolts III, I4 extending through alignedconnecting eyes I5, 'I5 (see Figure 3). Said hopper-like trough is mounted on the base II for reciprocable movement with respect thereto on ausual type of ball frame, herein shown as including an upper frame I6 secured to the underside of said trough and reciprocably mounted on a lower frame Ilon balls I8, I8 `(seeFigures 3 and 5).. base I I for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axisA and'for'limited movement with respect thereto' in a plurality 'of vertical planesV on a convex' or semi-ball-shaped vbearing member I9' (see Figure 5). f* Svaidbearing Said lowerframe is mountedion said A retaining` plate A vertical shaft 4 'beneath the vertical shaft 4|.

thereto about a pair of parallel spaced vertical axes, and forms a means to transfer material from said gathering unit to said conveyer in all positions of said gathering unit with respect to said .main line conveyer. Said gathering unit may be of various well known forms, but is hereinshown as being anrindependent shaker conveyer loading device. l Y

The transfer conveyer 24 may be of any form well known to those skilled in the art and, as herein shown, is a chain conveyer consisting of a pair of parallel spacedendlesschains 29, 29 having fiights 30, 30 connected therebetween and movable along a material supporting plate 3|, connected between sides 32, 32 of the frame foi -said conveyer. Said endless chains are trained along said plate Afrom drive sprockets 33, 33 at the receiving end of said conveyer, to and around idlers 34, 34 at the discharge end of said conveyer and underneath said plate to said drive sprockets (see Figure 4). Said shaft and` drive sprockets are driven from a motor 35, herein shown as being mounted on one Vof the sides 32, 32, through a worm gear reduction 36 and achain and sprocket drive indicated generally by reference l character 31 (see'Figure 4).

The transfer' conveyer 24 is pivotally mounted on a base '39 with its receiving end disposed beneath the `discharge end of the gathering unit 25.

Said base is mounted on the ground for slidable movement therealong, but may beheld stationary during the loading Operation by jacks 38, 38AV (see Figures 1 and 3). The mounting for said trans- Aferconveyer on said base includes asemi-ballshaped bearing member 40 which is mounted on a vertical shaft 4|j (see VFigures 3 and 18),. Said vertical shaft is mounted on and projects up- The link 43 includes a cross frame member 44 mounted on a semi-ball-shaped bearing 45, which is mounted on a vertical shaft 52, disposed just A pair of parallel spaced tubular'frame members 46, 46 are secured to' opposite sides of said cross frame member, and extend forwardly therefrom. The forward ends of said tubular members are secured to the opposite outer sides of a supporting leg 41 for the rear end of a reciprocating trough 49 of the 'Y The frame members 46,46 and transfer con- Vveyer thus space the base from the base 50, and

connect the gathering Yunit to'saidbase for movement about a pairof'parallel spaced vertical axes and about a plurality of parallel horizontal axes, to .permit said gathering unit to be readily maneuvered about said bases and Y39, and permit said bases 39 and'50 `to accommodate them- Y selves to an irregular mine bottom.

TheV gathering unit25 includesthe reciprocating trough '49 reciprocably mounted-at its rear end on the upper end of the supporting leg 41 and at its forward end Vo-n anextensible trough 5|, mounted for telescopic extensible orretractible movement with respect 'to said reciprocating trough. Said extensible trough Ihas a pick-up member or shovel 53 extending from its forward end and communicating therewith, which forms a meansl for picking up material from the-ground and forms a slidable support for the forward end of said extensible trough on the ground.

i Av feeding device indicated generally by reference character 54 is shown as being provided to VIVextend the extensible trough 5| and 'shovel 53 wardly from a bracket 42, vsecured to said base L and extending over a link 43, which serves to pivotally connect saidgathering unit to said base and which is journaledY at its rear end on vsaidV axisof connection of said conveyerto said base. The mounting for the transfer conveyer l24 on `the gear 23 and the base 39 includes a pair of par- `pin projects rearwardly from landforms a pivotal support for a transverse supporting frame l0, depending from the bottoniof the` conveyer 24 and vforming a support therefor (see Figures 3 and 4). AV pair of tubular frame membersj| I', extend forwardly from opposite sides of said transverse supporting frame along the transfer conveyer, and form a support for said transfer conveyer. Said tubular Iframemembers are connected at their forward ends with a transverse fbase for movement about an axis coaxial with the into the material it is desired to load. Said feeding devicemay be of any well known form, but is herein shown' as being a frictiongrip feeding device somewhat similar to that shown and described in the Bergmann patents, Nos, 2,186,472 and 2,278,302, and isno part of my present invention, so will only 'herein be described in so far as is necessary tomake my invention readily understandable. lSaid feeding device -includesthe usual friction grip blocks 55, 55 engageable with the Vupper and lower sides `of Vbearing plates 56, 56fextending along each side of the extensible trough 5| Vand projecting laterally from the upper.I ends u thereof. VA control lever 51 is pivotally mounted 'in apair of laterally spacedbrecketssa, 5a. said 'brackets extend Yforwardly from oppositev sides of the forward end of the reciprocating trough"49 'and are pivotally connected lto a frame 59 -secured to the forward en d of said reciprocating trough and f extending across the bottom thereof and upwardly q blocks.

The forwardv end ofthe reciprocating trough 49 is slidably mounted Von the extensible trough Y"rocking said transverse shaft. 'ing arms 93, 93 are herein shownas being keyed VVto the ends of said shaft and have driving connection with the reciprocating trough 49 throughif a pair of drive links 94, 94 extending rearwardly along said trough and universally pivotally con- 5| on verticallyspacedA rollers 63, l63'journa1ed fin opposite sides of the frame 59 andadapted to engage the upper and lower sides of the bearing plates 56, 56. The connection between the rear end of the rerciprocating and extensible troughs includes a pair of brackets65, 65 depending from the rear of the 'bearing plates 56, 56 and having rollers 66, 66 mounted thereon` and adapted to engage the undersides of the upper flanges of the reciprocating trough 49,to hold said extensible trough Ain parallel relation with respect to said recipro- 2 eating trough. Y

AThe rear end of the reciprocating trough 49 is pivotally mounted on the supporting leg 41 on av usual form of ball frame. Said ball frame includes an upper frame member 69, secured to and depending from thebottom of said trough, and a lower frame member 10, pivotally mounted on the. upper end of said pivoted supporting leg l1 :on a transverse shaft 12. Balls 13, 13 are interposed between -said upper and lower frames and vforms an anti-friction support for said upper -frame on said lower frame, in a well known manner.

Y A pair of parallel spaced guide arms 19, 19 pro-l4 .ject forwardly from opposite sides of the base 50 and have slidable engagement with guide mem- -bers 80, 80 forming depending extensions of the sides Yof the frame 59, to guide the recprocating. 30

trough 49 for reciprocable movement with respect to the base 58 and to laterally move said reciprocating trough, upon lateral movement of said vbase 58 about the base 39 (see Figures 2 and 10) A guide sheave 8| projects laterally from each off" said brackets. Said guide sheaves are adapted to form guides for flexible feeding members 82, 82`

. extending from winding drums 83, 83 mounted on opposite sides of a casing for a drive mechanism 84, which serves to reciprocably drive the recp-540 rocating and extensible trough sections of the .loading device (see Figure 6).

The drive mechanism 84 may be of any well -known form andas herein shown includes a `crank 8 5 rotatably driven from a drive motor 86,

secured tothe casing for said drive mechanism. The drive from said motor to said crank includes va transverse shaft 81A driven from said motorv through a gear train indicated generally by reference character A88. Said transverse shaft forms a drive for the winding drums 83, 83 from its opposite ends, in amanner which will herein- Q after more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. The crank 85 is driven from said transverse shaft throughV a pair of meshing spur gears Y 89. A connecting rod 99 connects said crankwith Va rocking arm 9| on a transverse shaft 92 for A pair of rocknected to opposite ends of a connecting bracket 95, securedto the bottom of and extending lat-- erally beyond opposite sides of said trough Iin a f plane herein shown as being substantially midway I between `the top and bottom of said trough.

The drive to the winding drums- 83, 83 includes a pair of spur pinions 96, 96 keyed to opposite ends of the transverse shaft 81 and meshing with internal gears 91, 91 journaled on their hubs onstub shafts 98, 98, projecting laterally fromV 'opposite sides of the casing for said conveyer j; drive mechanism. The Vwinding drums 83,83 are journaled ontheir hubs on the hubsof said internal, gears. Each of said winding drums is selectively connected with its associated internal gear to be driven therefrom by means of a pin -`99, slidably mounted on said winding drum and adapted to selectively engage one of avplurality of apertures |00, |08 formed in the web of said internal gear, to forma selective drive connection from said gear to said winding drum. A hand lever 99ais mounted on the outer end of each of said pins, to form an operating means therefor.

Friction bands I-Dl, ||l| are provided to restrain rotation of the winding drums 83, 83 when disconnected from their respective internal gears. Each of said friction bands is adapted to engage a flanged portion |92 of its associated winding drum. A hand wheel |02a is associated with each kfriction band |0| to apply or permit said friction band to be released. Said hand wheels are each threaded on a threaded rod |02b having engagement with an end of an associated friction band (see Figure 2). The operative connection between said hand wheels and friction bands is not herein shown or described in detail, since it is no part of my present invention.

Vand Vthe transfer yconveyer 24 about the axis of ,said gear includes a motor H5 mounted Yon the base through a gear train generally indicated by reference character H1. Said worm meshes with a worm gear H8 journaled von a vertical shaft l H9. A spur gear |28 is keyed on the lower` end of said shaft and meshes with and drives a spur gear |2| keyed on arparallel vertical shaft |22. Said last mentioned spur gear meshes with the teeth of the gear 23 for turning said gear and the transfer conveyer 24 therewith.

The transfer conveyer may thus be turned by power about thefaxis'of the gear 23 to position the gathering unit for gathering material from ypositions close to the receiving end of the main It should here beunderstood that when said transfer conveyer is moved to ,either of the extreme positions shown by broken lines in Figure l, that Voneof the forward jacks |2 must be removed, the base being held down by three jacks when in this position, which are suicient to securely hold said base in position on the ground.

It may be seen from the foregoing that the novel arrangement of the loading device is such that Vthe discharge end of the reciprocating trough 49 of the gathering unit will discharge material into the transfer conveyer 24 when AdisplacedY laterally with respect thereto about the axis of the shaft 52, when said transfer conveyer Ais in various angular positions with respect to r said main line conveyer; that said transfer con-Y veyer will also discharge material into the main line` conveyer when in various positions of lateral ,a'djustmentwith respect thereto, about the axis ofthe gear v23; that .said transfer conveyer'may vbe moved about the receiving end of said main A worm H6 is'driven by said motor 'line `conveyer in various directions and degrees *byp'ovver derived from the Hmotor `I [Stand-that the gathering unit may be independently Y moved v with respect to said transfer conveyerrand 'main iAline-c o'nveyer during the loading-ioperationby power derived y from f the shaker `conveyer drive motor 86. Y -V lfltmay further be seenthatlthe gathering unit fmay be positioned-to one side or the other of the Lmain -line conveyer 'for loading material vfrom 1 positions close to thereceivingend of saidmain lineconveyer, as shown in-Figure 1,-\ and may be swung about Athe receiving end ofsaid Vtransfer conveyer-when in sucha position. It mayalso be seen that the transfer conveyer may be so positioned that tl'ie'gathering` unit may pick up *material at right angles to the main line con- "veyer, close to the receiving end thereof, and may Ybe 'moved towards and from the extended longitudinal center line of -the when so positioned. `-While'I have'herein shown kand described one 'form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be'understoo'd that the construction thereof main line conveyer and the arrangement of the various partsimay l' fberaltered without departing from the spirit`- and scope thereof. fb'e" construed as Ilimiting myy invention to the `specific embodiment illustrated,

Furthermore, Izjdo'not Wish to l I excepting kas it may be limited in the appended claims.

, I'claim as my invention;

1. In a conveyer, a stationary base, a main line V'conveyer mounted at its receiving end on said base 4and extending therefrom, a mobile shaker co'nveyer'gath'ering unit controllable to' its location relative 'to saidbase and conveyer and unit with respect to said main line conveyer and Vforming a material transfer means and controlling link pivotally connecting said gathering unit Withsaid main line conveyer.

V2. In a conveyer, a stationary base, a 'main line conveyer mounted aty its receiving end on said ,base and extending therefrom,'a mobile Shaker f Aconveyer gathering unit operable independently of'said baseand conveyer and including a recipllrocating,shovel, and a connection between said gathering unit and base, permitting said gatherf 'ing unit to move relatively to said base and connectingnthe discharge end of said gathering unit to the receiving end of said conveyer including v, an endlesstransfer conveyer arranged in receiving relation with respect to said gatheringunit and in Vdischarge relation with respect Vto said main line conveyer in various positions ofsaid gathering unit with respect to said main line;l jconveyer.

3.In a conveyer Iloading device, a stationary base, areceiving hopperv mounted on said base and havinga conveyer extending therefrom, a mobile shakerA conveyer gathering unit operable j independently v'ofV said base and conveyer and `including a reciprocating shovel adapted tovpick up material, and a material carrying connection flbetween said'gathering unit and saidvbase ,forA Y transferring material* from said gathering unit'lZ ,itosaiahoppsr-m various positions of said gatheringunitwith respect to said hopper, and for Yholdingsaid"gathering unit in-xed spaced relation with respect to said base and connecting said gathering unit 'to .said base for movement about avplurality ofpara-llel spaced vertical raxes including an endless transfer'conveyer,

. '4. Inra conveyer loading device, a main line rconveyer including a reciprocating vtrough `line having a reciprocablymovable hopper at its receiving fend, a stationary base at the receiving e vend'of said conveyer and forming a support for said hopper, a mobile shaker conveyer,` gathering runit'spaced from said base and movableginde- `pendently With respect thereto, said gathering unit including a base. slidably movable along the ground, a, reciprocating :shovel mounted on said base and adapted to pick up material from'the ground, and an endless transfer conveyer independent of said first conveyer and connecting the discharge end of said gathering unit 4with the receiving end of saidmainline conveyer, said "transfer conveyer forming-a, means for connecting saidgathering unit with said main line conveyer and for holding said gathering unit in spaced relation Withrespect thereto, for V movement about a pair'of "parallel spaced vertical axes. Y

v 5. In a conveyer loading device, a main line conveyer including a reciprocatingtrough line vhaving a reciprocablymovable hopper at its receiving `en'd,`a stationary vbase atthe lreceiving end of said conveyer and forming a support for said hopper, a mobileshaker conveyer gathering unit spacedfrom said 'stationary base and movable independently With respect' thereto, -said Vgathering unit including a-base slidably movl Y able along the ground, a reciprocatingshovel mounted-on said base land adapted to pick up material from'the ground, an endless transfer conveyer independent of said main line'conveyer, a vertical pivotal mounting'for the discharge end of said transfer conveyer on'said stationary base, and a' `pivotal connection between the `receiving end of said transfer conveyer andr said-movable base `for connecting saidgathering unit to said stationary base for pivotal movement 'withrespect thereto'about a pair of parallel spaced Vertical axes, said transfer Vconveyer forming a means'fortransferring material from sai-d gath- 'ering `unit to said main line-conveyer in various positions of said gathering 4unit With respect vto said main line conveyer and forming a control link forcontrolling the path of movement of said gathering unit along the ground. y

6. In --aconveyer'rloading device, a Vvmain line V4conveyer includingfa reciprocating trough line having a-,reciprocably movable hopper at'its'rec'eiving end, a stationary base atthereceiving e -end of saidconveyerland jforming a support for said hopper, vashaker'conveyerV gathering unit -spagCed from said stationary "base and independently movable with `respect thereto, said gatherving-'unit includingabase slidably movable` along -the'fground Va reciprocating shovel vmounted on ysaid-base and adapted to pick up `material from the-ground, an endless transfer conveyer independentofsaid rst conveyer, a vertical pivotal Inountingfor the'fdischarge end of said 'transfer conveyer on rsaid stationary,A base, and .a 'pivotal vconnection between `the 'receiving end of 'said j transfer conveyer'and said movable 'base 'for jc'on- 1 ne/cting fsa'id gatherin'gfunit to said stationary I baseifor pivotal movement With`respect'thereto 'about a pair of parallel spaced vertical axes, said transfer conveyer forminga means for transferring material from said gathering unit to said main line conveyer in various positions of said gathering unit with respect to said main line conveyer and forming a control link for controlling the path of movement of said gathering unit along the ground, and self-contained power means on said stationary base for positively moving said transfer conveyer about its axis' of pivotal connection to said base.

' 7. In a conveyer loading device, a main lin conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof and forming a mounting therefor, a gathering unit spaced from said stationary base and independenely movable with respect thereto, Y

said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, a shovel mounted on said base and adapted to pick up material from the ground, a transfer conveyer independent of said first conveyer, a vertical pivotal mounting for the discharge end of said transfer conveyer on said stationary base and a pivotal connection between the receiving end of said transfer conveyer and said movable base for connecting said gathering unit to said stationary base for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a pair of parallel spaced vertical axes, said transfer conveyer forming a means for transferring material from said gathering unit to said main line conveyer in various positions of said gathering unit with respect to said main line conveyer and forming a control link for controlling the path of movement of said gathering unit along the ground, power means on said movable base for moving/said gathering unit along the ground, and other power means on said stationary base for positively moving said transfer conveyer about its axis of pivotal connection to said base.

8. In a. conveyer loading device. a conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof, a shaker conveyer gathering unitspaced from said base and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidabh7 movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted on said base for reciprocable movement with i respect thereto, means on said base for reciprocably driving said shovel to cause it to pick up material from the ground, other means on said base for moving said base and shovel about the ground under power, an endless transfer conveyer driven independently of said rst conveyer and arranged to transfer material from said gathering unit to said first mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forming a support for said transfer conveyer, a linkage connection between said second movable base andsaid stationary base for pivotally connecting said second movable base to said stationary base, and a linkage connection between said movable bases, for holding said bases in spaced relation with respect to each other, but permitting movement of saidY first movable base with respect to said stationary base and said second mentioned movable base.

9. In a conveyer loading device, a conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof, a gathering unit spaced from said base and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted onsaid base. for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means on said base for reciprocably driving said shovel to cause it to pick up material from the ground, other means on said base for moving said base and shovel about the ground under power, a transfer conveyer driven independently of said first conveyer and arranged to transfer material from said gathering unit to said first mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forming a support for said transfer conveyer, a linkage connection between said second movable base and said stationary base for piv.- otally connecting said second movable base to said stationary base and for holding said bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other, a linkage connectionbetween said movable bases, for holding said bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other, but permitting movement of said first movable base with respect to said stationary base and Vsaid second mentioned .movable base,V and self-contained power means on said stationary base having positive drive connection. with said-first linkage connection for swinging said transfer conveyer and second movable base about said stationary base.

1 10. In a conveyer loading device,l a conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof, a gathering unit spacedfrom said base and operable-independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted on said base for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means on said base for -reciprocably driving said shovel to cause it to pick up material from the ground, other vmeans on said base for moving said base and shovel about the ground under power, a transfer conveyer driven independently of said flrstfconveyer and arranged-to transfer material from said gathering unit to -said first mentioned conveyer in all positions of said gathering unit Vwith respect to said rst mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forminga support for the receiving end of said transfer conveyer, a universal linkage connection between vsaid second movable base and said stationary base, for holding said basesin fixed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting movement of said second movable b ase about said stationary base along an uneven mine bottom, and ai universal linkage connection between said movablefbases, -for holding said movable bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting mgygment of said first movable base along an 'uneven mine bottom with respect to said stationary base and said second movable base. l 11. In a conveyer loading device, a conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof, a gathering unit spaced from said base and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted on said base for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means on said .base 'for reciprocably driving said shovel to cause it to pick up material from the ground, other means on said base for moving said base and shovel about the ground under power, a transfer yconveyer driven independently of said first conveyer and arranged to transfer material from said gathering unit to* said firstmentioned conveyer in all positions of said gathering unit with respect to said first mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forming a support for the receiving end of said transfer conveyer, a universal linkage connection between said second movable base and said stationary base, for holding said bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting movement of said second movable base about said stationary base along an uneven mine bottom, a universal linkage connection be tween said movable bases, for holding said movable bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting movement of said rst movable base along an uneven mine bottom with respect to said-stationary base and said second movable base, and self-contained power means on said stationary base having positive'drive connection with said'rst mentioned linkage connection for swinging said second mentioned base about its vertical axis of connection to said stationary base.

12. In a conveyer loading device, a conveyer, a. stationary base atrthe receiving end thereof, a gathering unit spaced from said base and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidablyv movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted on said base for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means on said base for reciprocably drivingv said shovel to cause it to pick up materialffrom the ground, a transfer conveyer driven independently of said rst conveyer and arranged in receiving and discharge relation With respect tosaid extensible shovel and first mentioned conveyer, to transfer material from said gathering unit to said-first `mentioned conveyer, a second movable baseforming a sup-port for the receivingl end of said transfer conveyer, a linkage connection between said movable bases for holdingsaid bases in xedspaced relation with respect to each` other but permitting movement of said first movable baseaboutlsaid secondl base,Y a universal pivotal `connection between said'second movable base and said stationary base including a gear mounted on said b ase for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis, a link transversely pivoted to said gear, a support for said transfer, conveyer pivotally supported on said link for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the conveyer, a vertical pivotal connection between said support and said second movable base, andlpower means on said stationary base for turning said gear to laterally movevsaid second movable base and conveyer; with respect to said stationary base.

13i In a conveyer loading device, a conveyer, a stationary base at the receiving end thereof, a gathering unit spaced from saidbase and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, an extensible shovel mounted on said base for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means onsaid base for reciprocably driving said shovel-to Vcausait to pick up material from the ground, a transfer conveyer driven independently of said first (conveyer and 'arranged in receiving and discharge relation 'with respect to said extensible shovel and first mentioned conveyor to transfer material from said gathering unit Vto said first mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forming a support for the receiving end of said transfer conveyer, a linkage connection between said movable bases for holding said bases in fixed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting movement of said first movable base about said-second base, a universal pivotal connection between said second movable base and said stationary base including a gear mounted on said base for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis, a link transversely pivoted to said gear, a support for said transfer conveyer pivotally supported on said link for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the conveyer, a vertical pivotal connection between said support and said second movable base, and self-contained power means on said stationary base having positive drive connection with said gear for laterally swinging said movable base and conveyer along the ground with respect to'said station'arybase, said power means including a self-locking worm and worm gear for holding said transfer conveyer in various desired positions with respect to said stationary base.

14. In a conveyer loading device, a conveyer, a. stationary base Vat the receiving end thereof, a gathering unitv spaced from said base and operable independently thereof, said gathering unit including a base slidably movable along the ground, a shovel mountedon said base for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, means on said base for reciprocably driving said shovel to cause it to pick up material from the ground, a transfer conveyer driven independently of said first conveyer and arranged in receiving and dischargev relation with respect to said shovel and said 'first mentionedconveyer, to transfer material from said gathering unit to said rst mentioned conveyer, a second movable base forming a support for the receiving end of said transfer conveyer, a linkage connection between said movable bases for'holding said bases in xed spaced relation with respect to each other but permitting movement of Vsaid first movable base about said second' base, a universal pivotal connection between said second movable base and said stationary base including a gear mounted on said base for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis, a link transversely pivoted Vto said gear, a supportfor said transfer conveyer pivotally supported on said link for movement about an axisA extending longitudinally of the conveyer, a vertical pivotalnconnectionbetween said support and said second` movable base, 4powe'rmeans on said stationary basefor 'turning said gear to laterally move said second movable base andconveyer lwith respect` to said stationary base, and power means on said first mentioned movable base for moving said gathering unit independently about said transfer conveyer. l

15. In a conveyer loading device, a main line Y conveyer, a stationary baseat the receiving end thereof having the receiving end of said conveyer mounted thereon, a second base spaced from said stationary base and slidably movable along the ground with respect thereto, a conveyer mounted on and extending beyond the forward end of said, slidably movablebase, a transfer conveyer for transferring materia1 from said second mentioned conveyer to said first mentioned conveyer, said transfer conveyer being mounted on said first mentioned base for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis and rhaving vertical pivotal connection with said slidably movable base, power means on said slidably movable base, for moving said base and associated conveyer along the ground, and selfcontained power means on said stationary base for positively moving said transfer conveyer about its axis of pivotal connection to said stationary base and for moving said slidably movable base therewith, to position said base and associated conveyer to either side of said main line conveyer.

CHARLES A. PRATI'. 

